After I left the Brown Sheep outlet store, I headed north into the Black Hills. I love the Black Hills. Prior to 1991, I had never been there. But that summer, I worked for the Forest Service out of the Harney Ranger District in Hill City, South Dakota, marking timber and fighting forest fires. (Wow, the building I worked out of isn’t in use anymore and is now for sale!)
When I had time off, I explored. One of my very favorite hikes was through the miniscule Black Elk Wilderness up to Harney Peak. I have no idea how many times I hiked those trails that summer!
Ready to go? If you enlarge this picture and look at the skyline in the center, you’ll see a wee bump. That’s my destination.
I made sure to fill out my wilderness registration card, just in case!
Whew! Almost to the top, although I swear the last steps up are the hardest of all.
It might surprise you to learn that at 7247 feet (2207 meters) Harney Peak is the tallest point between the Pyrenees and the Rockies!
The views are best on a clear day, but they weren’t too shabby even on this cloudy one.
Unfortunately, the clouds really started to rush in then, so I booked on down the trail, lickity split! I got pretty wet that last mile or two – fortunately, I wasn’t wearing cotton, so I dried off very quickly once I got in the car and out of the rain. As I headed down to civilization, the storm got completely crazy and I pulled off to wait it out.
This is what a hailstorm looks like from inside my car:
“Whoa, Mom, that’s making me dizzy!” -Chaos
Wow, that looks like a great hike! I so love nature trails and hiking…
You fought forest fires? Cool! (Hmmm, but that’s one thing you and I don’t have in common!)
😀
Wow! Good thing you knew the motto…cotton kills;-) It must have been amazing but a little frightening, too. Your pictures are amazing.
Great views!
Oh, wow. Those pictures are amazing. What a beautiful place…
Good thing you weren’t wearing cotton. 😉
Gosh! You must be pretty fit.
What amazing views, it is beautiful.
Wow – that looks like quite a hike! Those pictures are so beautiful!!!
Holy crap. That’s quite a hike. Gorgeous pictures and views!
GREAT photos – man, I miss my hiking days – can’t wait till these kids can walk! (wait, don’t hold me to that last statement ;))
Wow, those pictures are beautiful! No wonder it’s your fav. place. I doubt anything would have gotten me to leave willingly.
That looks like a great hike! I love the Black Hills.
Wow! It looks like a beautiful day….even the storm!
I think we’ll have to add the hike to our black hills list!
Chris- Wow- it looks a little like a medievel fortress.
I had no idea you were such a rugged adventurer. You knit, you dye, is there any talent you don’t possess?
Not to mention those amazing cats!
I went to the Black Hills many years ago. It was pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed the time I spent there. I’ll have to do the Harney Peak hike if I ever get back.
We have camped at Horsethief Lake and eaten the buffalo stew (yum!) at the Mt. Rushmore cafeteria for several years. And the Mangy Moose bar & grill just outside of Hill City is also a favorite, especially the outdoor deck in back that overlooks the horseshoe player area.
But wilderness hiking, nah. You are an adventuress! Someday, please share with us the story of how you got from forestry to the tech industry.
Wow – beautiful views. My guys are headed off this weekend to hike the Sierras for a week. I have to remind them to take their camera OUT of their pack this time!
Brown Sheep OUTLET? fun!
Too cool! You fought forest fires *moves Chris up a peg on the totem pole*. Um, so did you ever meet Smokey the Bear?
This is what a hailstorm looks like in front of Chaos…oh wait, wrong picture.
Very cool, I really like that lookout tower.
What a hike! Thanks for the guided tour. (Now I can cross that off my list of places to visit.)
what beautiful photos of your fabulous hike. a hail storm in July??
Our family loves the Black Hills too. Especially Custer State Park. When we go, the kids can hardly wait to stop in the Badlands…
Wow what a gorgeous place! I really want to visit the Black Hills sometime.. haven’t made it yet in my lifetime.
Wow – that’s really stunning. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us!
Hey, I live in the Black Hills. Were you here when we had the baseball sized hail? The hike to harney Peak is a challenge but beautiful. We did that hike when our boys were small. Glad you enjoyed the area.
Thats a pretty amazing spot & looks like a very challenging hike for the average I only hike when on vacation hiker. (thats me)
The spot though – looks to be totally worth the effort.
I used to hike mountains in Arizona. Now I get winded mowing the lawn. *Sigh* You’ve inspired me to get up off my ass…
Soon. Not today. 😉
Great hike! The views from the top were worth it. I hope the hail didn’t damage your car.
awesome pictures Chris! that is so beautiful I want to go! I want to go!
Way too cool! I don’t mind that you’re dragging out the vacation 😉
Nice hike! Thanks for doing all the work for me 🙂
I’m feeling horribly unfit now 🙂 That looks like a fantastic hike!
Hill City!! Are you kidding me? One of my favorite sandwiches in the whole world can only be found there (ok, their version of). At the Alpine Inn the only thing I EVER order is their Monte Cristo sandwich (and a beer). We own retirement property just north of Hiway 14 east of Deadwood (knitting hubby’s dream, I personally am waiting for a Hollywood billionaire to buy us out)
Amazing views. It’s all too easy here in the well settled east to forget how much country there is in our country.
Oh I love it out there. That was the first real vacation the Skeptic and I took together. Super fun. Love the Badlands too…I had the most wicked bike ride of my life there! 🙂
What awesome pictures! one of these days I’m going to make a true trip out west and see some of these sights. Until now I’m glad to be able to visit blogs and see others’ adventures.
The Black Hills are amazing. Wow, that’s some fortress! Beautiful hike.
Wow, looks like a fantastic hike!
Freaking awesome photos!
We drove near there once, I think. Lovely photos! Glad you pulled over, that storm looks scary! Cool little bit of geography trivia there!
Tired.Must.Rest.
What a gorgeous view! I’d love to go one day.
Awesome hike! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Everyone who says they want to go see the Black Hills- do it (just not all at once)! I grew up there. We got married about 15 min drive from that very same ranger station. It is so lovely and your photos just brought a smile to my face. I have done that hike several times.
Wow, wish I was there!!
I can see why you love it so much. Places like that really do inspire such a sense of peace and tranquility. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Anyone want to invest in a new yarn shop and fiberhotel/event center? In addition to Wall Drug and the Corn Palace, stop and stay at teh Fiber Hotel-no dieting necessary.
What beautiful sights!
Fabulous view!